Shock-absorber connection



July 3, 1923.

1,460,856 R. M. LOVEJOY SHOCK ABSORBER CONNECTION Filed-Feb. 11, 1920 lnvenro'r. Ralph M. LOVGJO) byfwmkf Anya.

Patented July 3, 1923..

1 i'r a orries.

RALPH m. LOVEJOY, 0F MEREDITH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

oox-masonnnn connnc'rron.

Application med February 11, 1920. Serial No. 357,996.

the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representin like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in shock absorber connections and the 0b- 'ect thereof is to provide a novel connection etween the force-resisting instrumentality of the shock absorber and the mechanism which is movable relatively to the shock absorber.

More specifically, the invention relates to improvements in connections for shock absorbers applled to vehicles, such as'automobiles, for the pur ose of cushioning the rebound which results from the action of the springs when the vehicle is passing over a rough or uneven road.

The connections between the axles and frame of an automobile or other vehicle, which includes a spring support for the frame and body of the vehicle, are necessarily suchthat the frame and body are permitted a limited movement in all directions so as to permit the independent action of the springs which support the frame and body. The connection betweenthe springs and frame is such that when the springs are depressed, a limited longitudinal movement of the body relatively to the axles occurs while like lateral flexing of the springs, when one-side is depressed more than anoth-, er, causesa limitedlateral movement of the body relatively to the axle.

Where shock absorbers are employed the force-resisting member of the shock absorber is supported upon one of the relatively movable members and connected to the othor relatively movable member. This connection, therefore, must be such as will 3.0- I

commodate itself to all of the various relative movements of the members. Where rigid connections are used the joints quickly become worn and an annoying rattling results. This objectionable feature of shock absorber connections was obviated by the construction in my prior 7 1,324,913, granted December 16, 1919, in which a flexible strap is usedto connect the force-resisting instmmentality of the shock Patent No.

absorber to the axle and in which the strap was. carried around the axle, but it was found that the'relative lateral movement of the frame relatively to the axle caused a bending of the strap edge-wise at its connection with the shock absorber'arm which in time caused the strap to break.

One of the objects of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a flexible con- ;nection between the force-resisting instrumentality of the shock absorber and the member which is movable relatively to it,-

which will accommodate itself to the relative movements of said members withb'ut producing such a bending of the connection as to cause its breakage.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for anchoring the loop of the flexible connecting member to the mechanism which is movablerelatively .to the force resisting instrumentality.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible shock absorber connection comprising a looped member which will automatically cause a substantially equal tension to be imposed upon each of the limbs of the loop.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guiding means for the fiexible.mem her which will prevent a sharp bending thereof in any direction due'to the relative movements of the movable members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shock absorber connection which can be easily applied to standard types of automobiles and which can be readily assembled and replaced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel bracket for a flexible shock absorber connection comprising a looped memher, inwhich the bracket has means for engaging the loop and also means for guiding the limbs of the loop, the construction being such as to make the equal tension upon the limbs of the loop self-adjusting.

Another object of the inventlon is to provide a novel. form of flexible instrumentality for connecting the shock absorber-to the member which ismovable relatively thereto. It has been found by experience, andby experiments, that where a connection, embodying tightly woven strands, is employed the connection will stretch 'when subjected to use, thereby impairing the eficiency of the shock absorber or requiring frequent adjustment. Furthermore, the crossing of the strands of such a connection reduces the flexibility thereof and renders the connection much more likely to break.

Another object. of the invention, therefore, is to provide a flexible instrumentality comprising substantially parallel strands, means preferably being provided to prevent abrasion or chafing of the strands upon each other by reason of the flexing of said instrumentality. This preferably is accomplished by providing a flexible instrumcntality comprising a series of parallelstrands of fibrous material, or of loosely braided strands of fibrous material, said strands being impregnated with, or imbedded in, a material which will reduce or prevent the chafing action of the strand as they slip upon each other during-the flexing of said instrumentality. 7

The preferred form of flexible instrumentality disclosed herein comprises a series of strands of fibrous material imbedded in elastic rubber, the strands being so arranged that the flexiblemember is in the form of a rope having substantially circular cross section. 'By reason of this construction a,

flexible connecting instrumentality is produced which, when subjected to a predeteined tension during manufacture, will not stretch to any appreciable extent when in use and which will bend freely in any direction, so that the likelihood of breakage when the fiexible instrumentality is used as ashock absorber connection is reduced to a .minimum.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the annexed claims.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings as applied to ashock absorber of the characmr illustrated in my prior Patent No. 1,324,913, aforesaid.

In the drawings:

Fig.- It is a side elevation of the front end at the frame and spring of vehicle with shockabsorber having a connection embodying the preferred form of my invention assembled thereon.

' Fig. 2 is a'detail enlarged side elevation of the shock absorber connection in a positicn similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1.

. Fig. 3 is an elevation looking toward the end of the shock absorber arm showing the flexible connection having a loop embracing a bracket which is secured to a vehicle spring, which is shown in cross section.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in sec-- tion, of a flexible instrumentality particuadapted for use in shock absorbers. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view or: the

on lines 5-.-5, Fig. The shock absorber connection, which my'prior patent aforesaid, which is shown as suspended upon the front end ofa typical frame 2 of an automobile. The shock absorber is provided with a force-resisting instrumentality including an arm 3 which is connected to the spring or axle which is movable relatively to the frame 2, as disclosed in my prior patent aforesaid. The means for connecting the end of the arm 3 to the spring or axle comprises a flexible instrumentality, preferably of circular cross section, like a rope, the ends being connected to the arm 3so that the flexible connection presents a loop 4 adapted to embrace a part of the mechanism which is movable relatively to the shock absorber. arm, the limbs 5 and .6 of said loop being secured to the arm 3.

The loop 4: may embrace the axle of the vehicle, as illustrated in my prior patent aforesaid, or the spring, or may be connected to a bracket which is suitably secured to' the member which is movable relatively to the shock absorber arm. Desirably the bracket is provided with a guideway to receive" and confine the limbs of the loop in ".uxtaposition while the bight of the loop embraces a suitable anchoring member which will prevent the withdrawal of the bight of the loop through the guideway.

member may be the arm itself or an independent member engaged by the bight of the loop of sufficient size to prevent the withdrawal of the loop through the guideway.

As illustrated herein the loop embraces an obliquely ofiset cylindrical arm 7 of a bracket 18 which is secured by bolts 9 and 10 and a clip 11 to the spring 12 of the vehicle."

The arm 7 of the bracket is provided with a bifurcated end portion, the arms 13 and 1d of which provide guides which embrace the limbs 5 and 6 of the loop. Suitable means may be provided for confining the limbs of the loop within the guide-way provided by the bifurcatedend of the ,a 7. A. convenient means, which is illustrated herein, comprises a pin 15 having an extension 16 which underlies the end. portion of the arm 3 and is adapted to support said arm in case of breakage or disability of the shock absorber. lnstead of providing a pin or termed integral with, the end of the arm This anchoring llll) lll) lllii extension 16, the bracket may be provided 3 V 3, the curvature of the end portion 18 being such as to prevent a sharp bending of the limbs 5 and 6 of the flexible member by reason of the relative longitudinal movement of the frame and axle and the arcu ate movement of the end of the arm 3.

The curved end portion 18 of the guide plategdesirably is provided with flanges 19 and 0 which diverge sufliciently at'their lower ends to permit slight side-way movement of the limbs 5 and 6 of the loop which occur from the lateral relative movement of the frame and spring.

The ends of the limbs 5 and 6 of the flexible member desirably are secured to the arm 3 and guide plate 17 by a saddle 21 having a pair of curved sockets 23, 24. which substantially fit the surfaces of the limbs 5 and 6. said saddle being secured to the arm by a bolt 25 extending to the plate 17 and arm 3.

Preferably the bracket 8 and arm 7 are so constructed that the limbs 5 and 6 of the loop extend upwardly at a slight angle tothe vertical longitudinal plane of the forceresisting arm of a shock absorber. so that a lateral tension in one direction will always be maintained upon the arm which will prevent endwise movement of the shaft of the shock absorber arm and thereby avoid any jarring or rattling.v

Any suitable cord or rope of fibrous material may beemployed as a flexibleconnect ing instrumentality for shock absorbers. although it is found that wire rope or ropes having great rigidity are comparatively easily broken by reason of the flexing action above described.

Preferably the flexible instrumentality is composed of a-series of strands which are parallel to each other and parallel to the axis of said instrumentality, although a flexible member comprising loosely-braided strands, which are substantially parallel, is-

found to be quite satisfactory, particularly where such strands are impregnated with a friction reducingv medium, such as oil, bees-wax, rubber, and the like.

The preferred flexible instrumentality illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 comprises a series of strands or small cords 26 of fibrous material. such as high grade cotton hemp or the like, imbedded in or impregnated with elastic rubber 27, the rubber serving to hold the strands together as a substantially round rope-like instrumentality and also to permit free relative longitudinal and lateral movements of the strands relatively to each other.

The elastic filling and binding material further provides friction reducing medium which prevents abrasion or chafing of the strands by reason of such relative movement.

Inasmuch as vthe strands form a flexible thestrands thereof to become more closely associated and in doing so to lengthen in proportion to the transverse reduction.

As a matter of fact it is found that a braided cord will stretch approximately 10% of its length when subjected to a breaking tension'and in the use of braided cords for shock absorber connections it has been customary to subject the cord to such breaking tension in order to produce a connection which will not stretch unduly.

The novel flexible member illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, when subjected toa proper tension during manufacture, will be of such a. character that no substantial stretching will result from continued use and: by the omission of the twisting or braiding of the strands a more highly flexible connection is provided which is less likely to break under the continuous lateral bending in all directions to which the connection is subjected when in use.

The bracket 8 preferably is provided with means such as a hook-like extension 28,

1. A shock absorber connection comprising a flexible member rigidly connected to the force resisting instrumentality of a shock absorber and presentinga loop and a member of the mechanism which is movable relatively to said shock absorber having a slot forming a guideway to receive and confine the limbsof said loop and means engage ing the bight of the loop beyond said slot acting to prevent the withdrawal of vthe loop through said guideway.

2. A shock absorber connection including a cylindrical flexible member having its ends connected rigidly to the force resisting instrumenta'lity of a shock absorber and presenting a loop and a bracket, connectedto the mechanism which is movable relatively to said shock absorber, having an. arm provided with a slot forminga guideway to receive and confinethe limbs of theloop and means engaging the bight of the loop acting to prevent the withdrawal of the loop through said guideway.

3. A shock absorberconnection including iigidly (to the foree-ifesieiieg insfciemeeeeliiy oi the shock ehsoehei pieseiseing e loop e hi eeliee eeeeecied no ibhe mecheeism which me slele releiively (to said shoals ehsoeheii, having an aim passing through iihe loop end provided with e hiliiieeied end portion pievidiiig e elol to guide the limbs of *ihe loop and e pin crossing slots miiiig to prevent displecemeiii of she limhs of the loop from said slei. v

i. A coeiieeiioii for dock elesoiheis heving force-resisting meeiis iiieliidiiig a pivot,- elly mounted arm, em'ved guide upon lzhe free end of said elem, flexible meiiihei suhsieiiiielly cyliiidiieel in form, presenting e loop edepied to emloi'eee s peels of the mechwhich is movable releiively to said shoal: slosoi'hei" with the limhs of the loopel said flexible memherpessing over said guide end e clamping saddle formed to the limbs of said loop, securing the ends of said flexible memhes to said xii-m.

5. In eomhineeioh with she heme end the axle of e vehicle, e shock absorber connected 37o heme end having force-residing means including e pivolelly mounted ei-m provided iis eeds Willi e downwardly .eiii'viiig guide e flexible member connected ei ifizs ends ie seid eim passing over said guide end :Sifigfiliimg e loop as lOiMlWlfE- mixed in email exle, having an arm engaging ihe highii said loop provided Wieh a l guide-way fez" ihe limhs of seid loop located heeeeih, but all; one side of the vestieel exiel oleiie of seid eiiiwed guide,

in eemhieeiioe Wiih the heme axle of e vehicle, e sheelx ehsoihee eoniieeied ho frame and hevieg; foeoe-sesisiieg including e pivoielly moiiiiied eiie giiovided end with e doi inwardly serving guide, e flexible member connected ,ei ills eiids 62o seid em, passing ovee seid guide end preseeiihg e loop, e hmeliel, seeiired lo said axle liming eh eim io engege ihe highl of said loop, provided Wilill e guidewey ioi' ihe limbs of seid loop, locefzed heiieeih seid curved guide.

Z. lii comhieeiioh Wiih the frame end eixle e vehiele, e shock ehsoiher connected lo seid frame, hevieg force-resisting meens including s pivole ly mounted e provided Willi e downwerdli Qlll'VllZlg' guide, e flexible memhei', connect eh its ends to seid arm, passing over said guide, end presenting a leop, e bieelxefiz seeiiied to said axle hevmg en ei'm edepied to engage the highi; of said loop and provided with e bifurcated end to guide the limbs of the loo and a pin connecting the members of sand bifurcated end hevii'ig an extension located heneelh the guide of seid shock ehsoi'hei' elem edepied to suppori seid arm in case of hl'eekege or oihei disability of the shock absorber.

8. ln combination Willi e shock ehsorher seemed to one of i-Wo relatively movable members and hsviiig force-residing meens and means connecting seid forcemesislzing means $0 the other ielsiively movehle'memher extending et as single to ihe Vfii'ilifiml plane of the force-resisting mews whereby a lateral leesioii will elweys he meimeieed upon said fOififi-TQSlSllKlg means.

9. In combination wiih e shoel: ehsorhei" secured to one of two ieljiiively movehle members and having e pi olelly moulded foree-i'esistzihg arm and flexible meii is eoniieetiiig seid force-residing ei'm $0 the oihes relatively movelole memhei' extending at an eiigle to the plane of i'eeipieceiion of said em whereby an leeerel tension will elwsys he meiiilieiiied upon said 527i lh lesiimohy whei eofi' l have signed my heme lo ihis speoilieeiiem.

RALPH WVEJUK 

